Quick start: Current and previous tertiary students
Applying for tertiary education as a current or previous tertiary student
This page provides an overview of the course research and application process and leads you to key information on this website. Including:
Am I eligible to apply through VTAC?
Apply for courses through VTAC
Consider applying for special consideration (SEAS)
VTAC’s role
VTAC receives, collates and forwards applications to institutions. This includes requests for special consideration (SEAS), scholarship applications and other supporting documentation that may be required by institutions.
After selection decisions are made by the institutions, VTAC sends messages of offer to successful applicants.
Which courses use VTAC?
Applications to some vocational education and training (VET) courses, undergraduate higher education courses and graduate-entry courses are administered through VTAC. However, most post-graduate courses require applicants apply directly to the institution. Use CourseSearch to search for courses that require you to apply through VTAC.
Research courses
Find courses you want to apply for in CourseSearch.
Find out about the institutions you are considering applying to.
Research the course requirements (including prerequisites) for each course that interests you. These are listed by applicant category (see below).
What is my applicant category?
Course requirements are listed by applicant category. Your applicant category is based on the highest level of education you have undertaken. If you are unsure of which category applies to you, this questionnaire will help you identify your applicant category.
Am I eligible to apply through VTAC?
To apply through VTAC, you must meet citizenship and residency requirements. International tertiary students should contact the institutions about how to apply.
The types of courses you can apply for depends upon your previous study, check minimum tertiary entrance requirements.
Apply for courses through VTAC
Create a VTAC account and complete your profile. Most applicants will need to get a Unique Student Identifier (USI) before they can complete their profile.
Learn about the process of applying for courses and create a course application by logging into your VTAC account.
You can apply for up to eight courses in order of preference. Make sure you meet the course requirements for each course on your preference list.
Is my previous study relevant?
Selection into a course is the responsibility of each institution and is based on what is published in the institutional requirements and course requirements.
When you apply for courses, your entire academic record is provided to the institutions’ selection officers. This includes results for any Year 12, vocational education and training (VET) or higher education study you have completed.
Some courses will require you to complete other requirements, some of which may be assessed for selection into a course.
Is my work and life experience relevant?
Work and life experience is considered for entry to some courses and for some applicants. This is usually communicated by a VTAC Personal Statement. To see if this is required, check ‘essential requirements and admission criteria’ in the course entry within CourseSearch.
If you have previous study, work or life experience related to the course, your experience may count toward your qualification. Institutions have their own policies regarding previous study and experience. For more information see Credit transfer and recognition of prior learning (RPL).
Consider applying for equity schemes (SEAS) and scholarships
If there have been circumstance that have made it difficult for you to do your best at study, you should consider putting in an equity schemes (SEAS) and scholarships application. equity schemes such as SEAS also allows institutions to identify applicants from under-represented groups when making selection decisions for some courses.
There are scholarships available for all kinds of reasons: such as those to support students with financial disadvantage, difficult circumstances and the need to relocate for study. There are also scholarships for Indigenous Australians, community service and academic merit. Find out how to apply for equity schemes (SEAS) and scholarships.
Changed your mind?
If you change your mind about a course or find a new one, you can use change of preference at certain times of the year to change your application. This includes before and after your results are released.
Course offers
Find out about offers and how to enrol or defer.